Wu Jinmai's POV
We are getting close to the gate when concubines enter. They are looking at me and feigning a smile.
"Greetings, Your Highness," they said, bowing their heads and doing a curtsy. I look at them coldly.
"Move away," I remarked.
"Uhm, can we ask what is happening? Why are you taking Concubine Wang with you?" Shi Yuyi asks.
If I was right, these three concubines are Shi Yuyi, Fu Ying, and Hao Xi. They are some of the favored wives of Wu Jinmai's father.
"Is it obvious? Now move," I repeated. They all smiled.
"We will take care of our friend. We, the concubines, will always help each other at times like this." Concubine Wang's servants were holding hands together and seemed nervous.
"Eunuch Liu, send people to destroy that house and build this whole place again. I want concubine Wang's quarters to be livelier."
"Understood, Your Highness," he replied.
I used my other hand to support her and step forward. I look into Concubine Shu's eyes. She turned pale when she saw my wrath in them.
"Move!" I roared.
She was about to speak when I stepped on her clothes and shoved her away. I walk forward as fast as I can.
I look around and find a place where she can stay. Damn this place! It's like a maze!
"Your Highness, this way! No one is using this chamber," Eunuch Liu says.
I turn around and get inside. They opened the door. I looked around and found the bed. I put her down. I look at Chen Da Xi.
"Go and find spare clothes in my chamber. Grab around five pairs; she needs new and decent clothes. She also needs some. Go," I remarked.
My servants bow their heads and leave. I look at the doctor. He sits next to her and starts checking her condition. I look at her servant.
"What is your name?"
"I'm Gong Lingling, Your Highness," she says.
"How old was she when she married the late emperor?" I ask.
She looks at me in the eyes. "She's nine years old, your highness."
I close my eyes and groan. I was about to speak when those people came in and followed us!
What the heck! "Go and bring some warm blankets for Concubine Wang," Concubine Fu commands her servants.
"Did I say that all of you should follow us here?" I coldly ask. They pay their respect again.
"We can't let you do this kind of trivial matter, Your Highness," concubine Hao says.
I scoff. All I can see are hypocrites in front of me. I look down on me. "Stay away from concubine Wang. Don't make me madder, my late father's woman. There is no need to help. We have enough hands to help," I asserted firmly.
I look at Eunuch Liu. "Eunuch Liu, can you send these beautiful ladies out? My patience is leaving my soul if they stay here further," I remarked.
Eunuch Liu walks forward and looks at these three concubines. I turn my back on them.
I watched the doctor do acupuncture. I wonder if I can exercise my knowledge of medicine in this era.
But this era's medical technology was different from what we have in the 21st century. It's different from the practices that I learned.
"Your Highness, she's dehydrated and deprived of healthy food. That weakens her immune system. I will prescribe some medicines for her to recover quickly. For now, liquid-like food is what she should eat to slowly regain her strength," he explains.
I look at Concubine Wang after listening to him. "Thank you, doctor. Eunuch Liu, can you take the medicine for her? I have an important matter to discuss with her servant."
He smiled and bowed his head. "Understood, Your Highness. Doctor Ming, let's go," he says. They leave right away. I need to make sure those three won't do any shady things. It always happens.
I look at Gong Lingling. She bows her head. "You must tell me what happened to your young lady. She's just eighteen years old, right?" I ask.
She's supposed to be the same age as my little brother, the crown prince, who was killed alongside my parents.
The court asked Wu Jinmai to kill half the concubines to let my father have women in the afterlife besides my mother.
"Yes, Your Highness. She had her birthday last month, but..." she halts. I take a deep breath and look at her.
"Just tell me everything and look at me in the eyes," I demanded.
She raised her head and looked at me. "After the emperor died, concubines Shi, Hao, and Fu ruled the harem. They are responsible for inner issues such as the distribution of supplies in every chamber," she paused.
"They're also responsible for disciplining the servants and other concubines as well," she added.
I take a deep breath. I look at my three husbands, who have been silent for a while now. I look at Gong Lingling.
"Go and take a bowl of water and a towel. You have to clean your master. My servants will help you later on," I remarked.
She bows her head and leaves. I stepped down and stood in front of them. "I want to investigate what is happening here. I know I've been asking too much, A'Zu, A'Jin, and A'Qin, but I really need your help. I can't believe a kid was experiencing too much cruelty at such an age," I murmur.
I turn around and shed my tears. How can I forget that the world has been unfair, no matter what era we are in? Life had never been fair and easy. I scoff. My tears didn't stop falling.
"Give me a moment," I whispered.
I turn around and let my tears fall, feeling this pain. I wonder why Wu Jinmai chose to be a villain instead of ruling this empire with compassion.
I will never let the court dictate my life. This time, it's their turn to follow me! I turn around and face them, wearing a fake smile.
"I apologize. I will take care of the inner court problem. The three of you should do the first things that I ask. I will clean some shit," I asserted.
They look at me with such a serious expression. "Shit? What is that, your highness?" Li Jin asks. My eyes widened. I laugh it out.
"Nothing," I remarked. We heard footsteps. They were my servants. "Your Highness, we gathered the clothes that you are asking for," Chen Da Xi says.
"Good. Thank you. Help Gong Lingling clean her lady's body," I said.
They all nodded. Gong Lingling enters, holding a bowl of water and a towel on her shoulder. "Let's start. We will help you," Chen Da Xi says.
I smiled while looking at them. I'm glad that concubine Wang had a loyal servant with her.
"Your Highness, can we speak with you outside?" Shanguan Zu Jin demanded, glaring at me. Did I do something wrong again?